Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H89/00—Combinations of two or more different basic types of electric switches, relays, selectors and emergency protective devices, not covered by any single one of the other main groups of this subclass
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
  • H01H50/02—Bases; Casings; Covers
  • H01H50/021—Bases; Casings; Covers structurally combining a relay and an electronic component, e.g. varistor, RC circuit
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H50/00—Details of electromagnetic relays
  • H01H50/02—Bases; Casings; Covers
  • H01H50/04—Mounting complete relay or separate parts of relay on a base or inside a case
  • H01H50/047—Details concerning mounting a relays
  • H01H50/048—Plug-in mounting or sockets
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H85/00—Protective devices in which the current flows through a part of fusible material and this current is interrupted by displacement of the fusible material when this current becomes excessive
  • H01H85/02—Details
  • H01H85/0241—Structural association of a fuse and another component or apparatus
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H85/00—Protective devices in which the current flows through a part of fusible material and this current is interrupted by displacement of the fusible material when this current becomes excessive
  • H01H85/02—Details
  • H01H85/20—Bases for supporting the fuse; Separate parts thereof
  • H01H85/203—Bases for supporting the fuse; Separate parts thereof for fuses with blade type terminals
  • H01H85/2035—Bases for supporting the fuse; Separate parts thereof for fuses with blade type terminals for miniature fuses with parallel side contacts
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H85/00—Protective devices in which the current flows through a part of fusible material and this current is interrupted by displacement of the fusible material when this current becomes excessive
  • H01H85/02—Details
  • H01H85/0241—Structural association of a fuse and another component or apparatus
  • H01H2085/0275—Structural association with a printed circuit board
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
  • H01H85/00—Protective devices in which the current flows through a part of fusible material and this current is interrupted by displacement of the fusible material when this current becomes excessive
  • H01H85/02—Details
  • H01H85/20—Bases for supporting the fuse; Separate parts thereof
  • H01H2085/2075—Junction box, having holders integrated with several other holders in a particular wiring layout
  • H01H2085/208—Junction box, having holders integrated with several other holders in a particular wiring layout specially adapted for vehicles

Definitions

• the invention generally relates to an electrical relay assembly, and more particularly relates to an electrical relay assembly including at least two relays and configured to be used with an electrical distribution center.
• Automotive wiring systems sometimes require more relay controlled circuits that can be accommodated by the electrical distribution center (EDC) of the vehicle.
• EDC electrical distribution center
• a relay assembly configured for use in a vehicle electrical distribution center.
• the relay assembly includes a circuit board characterized by electrically conductive traces disposed on at least a first surface of the circuit board, a first electrical relay device disposed on the first surface and electrically coupled to the electrically conductive traces; and a second electrical relay device disposed on the first surface and electrically coupled to the electrically conductive traces.
• the relay assembly also includes a first electrically conductive terminal disposed on a second surface of the circuit board and electrically coupled to the first electrical relay device and a second electrically conductive terminal disposed on a second surface of the circuit board and electrically coupled to the second electrical relay device.
• the relay assembly further includes a fusible link, a third electrically conductive terminal electrically that is coupled to the first relay and the fusible link, and a fourth electrically conductive terminal that is electrically coupled to the first conductive terminal and the fusible link.
• the relay assembly additionally includes a cover configured to enclose at least the first surface of the circuit board.
• the cover defines an opening configured to allow access to the fusible link.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a electrical distribution center including a relay assembly in accordance with one embodiment
• FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the relay assembly in accordance with one embodiment
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the relay assembly in accordance with one embodiment
• Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram of circuitry of the relay assembly in accordance with one embodiment
• Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of circuitry of the relay assembly in accordance with another embodiment
• Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the relay assembly having a cover in accordance with another embodiment
• FIG. 7 is an illustration of the dimensions of a mini-ISO relay package
• Fig. 8 is an illustration of the terminal dimensions of a mini-ISO relay package having 6 terminals; and [0016] Fig. 9 is an illustration of the terminal dimensions of a mini-ISO relay package having 5 terminals.
• a dual relay assembly that can be packaged within a single relay package, such as a mini-ISO relay package is presented.
• the dual relay assembly incudes at least two relays, therefore when this relay assembly is packaged in a vehicle's electrical distribution center (EDC), the number of circuits that can be controlled by the EDC can be increased or the size of the ECD may be decreased.
• An embodiment of the relay assembly is presented that incorporates a replaceable fuse, thus allowing further reduction in the size of the EDC due to the elimination of a separate fuse holder in the EDC for the relay controlled circuit.
• Fig 1 illustrates a non-limiting example of a relay assembly 10 configured for use in a vehicle electrical distribution center 11.
• the relay assembly 10 includes a single circuit board 12 having a plurality of electrically conductive traces 14 disposed on at least a first surface 16 of the circuit board 12.
• the circuit board 12 may also include conductive traces 14 on a second surface 18 of the circuit board 12 that are connected to the conductive traces 14 on the first surface 16 by conductive vias formed by plating holes defined in the circuit board 12 with a conductive material, such as copper.
• the circuit board 12 may be a printed circuit board (PCB) containing conductive traces 14 that are formed by a screen printing and/or a chemical etching process.
• the circuit board 12 may be made from epoxy or polyimide resins.
• the resin may be reinforced with a woven glass cloth or other matrix such as chopped fibers.
• Circuit boards formed of such materials are typically called FR-4 or G-10 type circuit boards.
• the circuit board 12 may alternately be constructed of ceramic or rigid polymers. This listing of acceptable circuit board 12 materials is not exhaustive and other materials may also be used successfully. The materials and manufacturing techniques used to form printed circuit boards are well known to those skilled in the art.
• the relay assembly 10 also includes a first relay 20 and a second relay 22 disposed on the first surface 16 of the circuit board 12.
• the first relay 20 and the second relay 22 include a plurality of electrical terminals 24 that are electrically coupled to the electrically conductive traces 14.
• the first relay 20 and the second relay 22 may be a circuit board mountable electrically controlled mechanical (electromechanical) relay, such as Model PC520 available from Pickler Components of Carrollton, Texas or Model AZ947 available from American Zettler, Inc. of Mission Viejo, California.
• the first relay 20 and the second relay 22 may alternatively be a solid state relay device including a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET).
• the first and second relay 20, 22 may be identical relay types or may be different relay types, e.g. normally open, normally closed, based on the electrical application of the relay assembly 10.
• the relay assembly 10 also includes a plurality of electrically conductive terminals 24.
• the electrically conductive terminals 24 are disposed on the second surface 18 of the circuit board 12 opposite the first surface 16.
• the electrically conductive terminals 24 are electrically coupled to the conductive traces 14 and are thereby connected to the first relay 20 and second relay 22.
• the electrically conductive terminals 24 may be soldered to plated though holes (vias) in the circuit board 12.
• the electrically conductive terminals 24 may be male blade terminals that are configured to interface with female receptacle terminals in the electrical distribution center 11.
• the electrically conductive terminals 24 may be male pin terminals, female receptacle terminals, or any other type of terminal configured to interface with the corresponding terminals in the electrical distribution center 11.
• the relay assembly 10b may additionally include a fusible link 26 that is in-line with the load input terminal 24c, 24e of the first and/or second relay 20, 22.
• the fusible links 26 may be replaceable fuses, such as APM or ATM-type mini fuse available from Littelfuse, Inc. of Chicago, Illinois.
• the fusible link 26a may be coupled to the load input terminal 24c via an electrically conductive terminal 28 such as a tuning fork terminal.
• An example of such a terminal is part number 13833338 available from Delphi Corporation of Troy, Michigan.
• the electrically conductive terminals 28 may be disposed on the first surface 16 of the circuit board 12 that are configured to receive the fusible link 26a and connect to the load input terminal 24c by a conductive trace 14 on the circuit board 12.
• the fusible link 26b may also may be coupled to the an electrically conductive terminal 24e on the second surface 18 of the circuit board 12 via electrically conductive terminals 28 disposed on the first surface 16 of the circuit board 12 that are configured to receive the fusible link 26b and connect to the electrically conductive terminal 24e on the second surface 18 of the circuit board 12 by a conductive trace 14 on the circuit board 12.
• FIG. 4 A non-limiting example circuit diagram of the relay assembly 10a without a fusible link is illustrated in Fig. 4.
• the coil terminal 86 and the common terminal 30 of the first relay 20 may be connected to the same electrically conductive terminal 24a.
• the coil terminal 86 and the common terminal 30 of the second relay 22 may be connected to the same electrically conductive terminal 24b.
• the normally open terminal 87 of the first relay 20 may be connected to the electrically conductive terminal 24c.
• the coil terminal 87 of the first relay 20 may be connected directly to electrically conductive terminal 24d.
• the normally open terminal 87 of the second relay 22 may be connected to the electrically conductive terminal 24e and the coil terminal 87 of the second relay 22 may be connected directly to electrically conductive terminal 24f.
• the embodiment of the relay assembly 10 illustrated in Fig. 4 provides a 6 pin relay assembly 10b.
• pins 24a and 24b may be combined to a single pin to provide a 5 pin relay assembly 10a.
• a non-limiting example circuit is of another embodiment of the relay assembly 10b with a fusible link 26 is illustrated in Fig. 5.
• the coil terminal 86 and the common terminal 30 of the first relay 20 may be connected to the same electrically conductive terminal 24a.
• the coil terminal 86 and the common terminal 30 of the second relay 22 may be connected to the same electrically conductive terminal 24b.
• the normally open terminal 87 of the first relay 20 may be connected to the electrically conductive terminal 24c through the fusible link 26a.
• the coil terminal 87 of the first relay 20 may be connected directly to electrically conductive terminal 24d.
• the normally open terminal 87 of the second relay 22 may be connected to the electrically conductive terminal 24e through the fusible link 26b and the coil terminal 87 of the second relay 22 may be connected directly to electrically conductive terminal 24f.
• This embodiment of the relay assembly 10 illustrated in Fig. 5 also provides a 6 pin relay assembly 10b.
• pins 24a and 24b may be combined to a single pin to provide a 5 pin relay assembly 10a.
• the relay assembly 10 includes a cover 32 that is configured to enclose at least the first surface 16 of the circuit board 12.
• the cover 32 is also configured to provide environmental protection for the first relay 20 and the second relay 22.
• the housing may define an opening 34 configured to allow access to the fusible link 26 so that the fusible may be replaced in the relay assembly 10 if it fails (opens) in service.
• the cover may be formed of a dielectric material such as
• the cover 32 may have the dimensions of a mini-ISO relay cover of 28 millimeters (mm) long by 28 mm wide by 25.5 mm high as illustrated in Fig. 7.
• the relay assembly 10 may include 6 conductive terminals 24a- 24f that protrude 11.5 mm from the second surface 18 of the circuit board 12 and have a thickness of 0.81 mm.
• the terminals 24a- 24f may be arranged as illustrated in Fig. 8.
• the coil terminals 24a and the common terminals 24b may be connected to a single terminal 24a so that the relay includes 5 terminals 24a, 24c-24f .
• the terminals 24a, 24c-24f may be arranged according to the dimensions shown in Fig. 9.
• the example embodiment of the relay assembly 10 presented herein includes two relays. It should be understood that other embodiments may be envisioned that include three or more relays. It should also be understood that other embodiments of the relay assembly 10 may be envisioned that include other electronic components such as capacitors, resistors, diodes, etc.
• a relay assembly 10 is provided.
• the relay assembly includes at least two independent relays 20, 22 and may be packaged in an existing relay package, such as a mini-ISO relay package. Therefore, two relays 20, 22 can now be packaged in a space formerly occupied by a single relay.
• This provides the advantage of increasing the number of circuits in a vehicle EDC 11 that can be controlled by a relay without increasing the physical size of the EDC 11.
• the relay assembly 10 may also include replaceable fusible links 26 to electrically protect the circuits against over-current conditions. This also provides benefits to the physical size of the EDC 11, since it is not necessary to add an additional fusible link receptacles for each additional relay protected circuit.

Landscapes

• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Electromagnetism (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Power Engineering (AREA)
• Fuses (AREA)
• Connection Or Junction Boxes (AREA)
• Relay Circuits (AREA)
• Emergency Protection Circuit Devices (AREA)

Priority Applications (5)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=50342054

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (4)

Citations (2)

Family Cites Families (18)

• 2013
  • 2013-07-23 KR KR1020157006730A patent/KR102042306B1/ko active IP Right Grant
  • 2013-07-23 EP EP13838907.7A patent/EP2898523A4/en not_active Ceased
  • 2013-07-23 WO PCT/US2013/051589 patent/WO2014046779A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2013-07-23 US US14/425,948 patent/US9715986B2/en active Active
  • 2013-07-23 CN CN201380048930.8A patent/CN105144325B/zh active Active
  • 2013-07-23 BR BR112015006120A patent/BR112015006120A2/pt not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (2)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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